P.E.O. Makes a Difference P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization for women founded on January 21, 1869, by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. This circle of kindred spirits – bonded by their enthusiasm for women’s opportunities – eventually expanded to include women off campus, as well. Today, P.E.O. has grown from that tiny membership of seven to nearly a quarter of a million members in chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada, with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa.

Friendship is the cornerstone of P.E.O. – it is the legacy left by our Founders and it thrives in our unique Sisterhood. P.E.O. exists to be a source of encouragement and support for women to realize their potential in whatever worthwhile endeavor they choose.

​ Our sisterhood proudly makes a difference in women’s lives with six philanthropies that include ownership of a women’s college, Cottey College, and five projects that provide higher educational assistance:

P.E.O. Philanthropic Projects

P.E.O. International has six projects supporting women's education. Millions of dollars in low-interest loans and scholarships are handed out each year to women in various stages of their educational journey. See below for additional information.

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Cottey Collegeis a fully accredited liberal arts college for women at Nevada, Missouri, owned and operated by the P.E.O. Sisterhood since 1927.

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Educational Loan Fund (ELF)Makes loans available to qualified women who desire higher education and are in need of financial assistance. Interest rate is 3.0%

​Program for Continuing Education (PCE)Provides need-based grants to women in the United States and Canada whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to support themselves and/or their families. The maximum one-time grant is $3,000.

Scholar Awards (PSA)Provides substantial merit-based awards for women of the United States and Canada who are pursuing a doctoral level degree at an accredited college or university.​

STARProvides a $2,500 award to high school senior women who wish to pursue post-secondary education.

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​Georgia Scholarship Fund Provides financial assistance to women who are either a high school graduate; undergraduate or graduate student of a accredited college or university; a resident of Georgia and has a GPA of at least 3.25.​​

Chapter V Georgia ScholarshipAwards $1,000 to one woman annually who is either from the state of Georgia or attending an accredited college or university in the state of Georgia.

​All grants, scholarships and loans, with the exception of the International Peace Scholarship (IPS), require applicants be sponsored by a local chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

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